Cross Denomination Fellowshipping

[Rev. Anthony Luckett]

Last night I went to a revival at a pentacostal church. The service was great. At the end of the service the guest preacher (elder) started prophesying over a few people. He prophesied over a young lady, and then he asked me if he could pray for me. I knew he was coming my way because before he called me out the Holy Spirt said, "he's coming your way next." So I let him pray for me. He then gave me a prophecy which was right on point. The things he said were things I had been thinking about. But then he begin to speak in tongues which threw me off a bit. We know what Paul says about speaking in tongues openly without an interpreter. (i'm still doing my homework about tongues). I've fellowshipped with non-denominational churches as well. I'm Baptist. Do any of you fellowship with other denominations? What was your experience like?

[Dr. Maxcina Gadsden]

Rev. Anthony,

Denominations has nothing to do with speaking in tongues. I was raised Baptist with a Pentecostal twist known as Baptist-costal in the south. LOL

I think Christians get confuse when we do not understand the difference between Speaking In Tongues and Your Pray Language. Also, we must get understanding of the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Part I.
When man-made ideas overshadows what the word says, that when denominational separation begins.

Attached is some information on Speaking in tongues and understanding the Holy Spirit:

"I wish you all spoke with tongues..." 1 Corinthians 14:5 excerpt - NKJV

What is speaking in tongues?
• Definitions: Tongues: "ecstatic, usually unintelligible utterance accompanying religious excitation" Ecstasy: "a state of overwhelming emotion; especially: rapturous delight" (both from Webster's Dictionary)
• Speaking in tongues is a unique way of communicating with God, and edifying oneself and/or others (1 Corinthians 14:4-5). It is most often used in prayer and worship.
• Tongues and interpretation are gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
• Tongues speak to God through "mysteries" of the spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2). Similarly, praying in tongues is praying with the spirit and singing in tongues is singing in the spirit. The natural man will not understand these manifestations unless interpretation is given (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14).
• Tongues can be a sign that a person follows Jesus Christ, but it is not a requirement (Mark 16:17)

Why speak in tongues?
• We receive edification needed for spiritual warfare (1 Corinthians 14:4). Tongues are like "spiritual battery charging”. Spiritual warfare often weakens faith and hope, and tongues can help rebuild them. Paul spoke more in tongues than many Christians (1 Corinthians 14:18), and it is likely that he used tongues to edify himself during his many tribulations and trials (2 Corinthians 11:22-31).
• The effectiveness of our intercessory prayer is increased: When we don't know how to pray, tongues directly engages the intercession of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26).
• Our communication and worship of God is carried to a deeper spiritual level (1 Corinthians 14:2)
• It is an opportunity to yield ourselves to God in humility. Speaking in tongues surrenders our human desire for control and understanding to God.

Points about tongues and interpretation:
• 1 Corinthians 14 is a key reference chapter for tongues. See 1 Corinthians 12-13 for helpful information on all the gifts of the Spirit.
• Tongues may take the form of an unknown (1 Corinthians 14:2 , 2 Corinthians 12:2-6) or known language (Acts 2:8-12)
• As with all Spirit's gifts, tongues and interpretation should be grounded in love (1 Corinthians 13:1,4-7)
• Tongues should be exercised in a peaceful, organized manner, not in confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33)
• A person speaking in tongues should pray that he may interpret (1 Corinthians 14:13)
• Tongues in a worship service are best done with interpretation, so that all people present are edified (1 Corinthians 14:26-28). Paul explained that there should be two or at most three people speaking in turn; one person (at least) should interpret; if there is no one to interpret, the speaker should keep silent, speaking to himself and God (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
• People should not ascribe tongues or other works of the Spirit to the work of Satan (Matthew 12:22-32), nor should they forbid speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:39).

The Apostle Paul’s comments on tongues: Paul wrote the majority of Bible's guidance on tongues. Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14:18 that he spoke in tongues more than any of the Corinthians. He also witnessed a form of tongues ("inexpressible words" NKJV) during a miraculous revelation in heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-6). His comments provide expert guidance on the subject:
• Paul desired that all the Corinthian Christians would have spoken in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:

[Dr. Maxcina Gadsden]

Part 2: Speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues
Speaking in tongues is often used in prayer in the Spirit. Tongues are a vehicle by which our spirit prays, while our mind may or may not understand what we are praying. Paul described this in 1 Corinthians 14:14-15 NIV: "For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind." Some people refer to tongues as a special "prayer language." Paul mentioned that he frequently spoke in tongues and wished that other believers would do the same (1 Corinthians 14:5, 18).

Prayer in the Spirit is an important, ongoing activity of spiritual warfare. Paul included it in his discussion of the whole armor of God in Ephesians 6:18 and Jude mentioned it in his epistle:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” Jude 20-21 NIV

Our Role: There are two participants involved with prayer in the Spirit - the Holy Spirit and us. Our part is to pray “always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” and “to be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” This does not mean that we have to be on our knees all day and night with eyes closed in prayer. Prayer in the Spirit is an inner activity of the mind and spirit where we maintain a type of open dialogue with God through the Holy Spirit. Outward actions such as bowing the head and closing the eyes may help us focus better on God, but it’s the inner communication with God that matters most.

In order to always be in prayer, we’ll need to be in control of our thoughts. When our thoughts are stuck on sinful fantasies, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to be in prayer. This is one of the reasons why we are to use the spiritual weapons God gives us to continually be “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV).

The definition of supplication is "asking for humbly or earnestly, as by praying" (American Heritage Dictionary). Prayer is an acknowledgement that we are not in control and need God to intervene. This attitude opens the door for communication with God, who can direct and apply our prayers in ways far beyond our understanding. Therefore, when we pray to God, we should do so earnestly in humility, inviting the Holy Spirit to work in the situation as God wills. It is really that simple.

The Spirit's Role: Once we’ve prayed, the Spirit intercedes for us and pleads in our behalf according to God’s will. Paul described how the Spirit intercedes in Romans 8:26-27:
“26So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.
27And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes and pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to and in harmony with God's will.” Romans 8:26-27 AMP

Leaving prayer concerns in God's hands can be challenging for us if we’re prone to being in control and thinking we know what God should do. Too often prayer becomes us telling God what to do, i.e. praying our will instead of his will be done (Matthew 6:10). In situations where God's will is unclear, we should take care not to presume his will. Praying in the Spirit doesn't require that we speak intelligible words, but simply that we lift up the situation to God, and trust that the Holy Spirit will intercede perfectly for us.

What prayer in the Spirit accomplishes: There are some important things that happen when we pray in the Spirit. Specifically, prayer in the Spirit:
• Perfects our prayer (Romans 8:26)
• Takes our case directly before God (Romans 8:27)
• Increases effectiveness of prayer for others (intercessory prayer) (Romans 8:27)
• Aligns our prayer with God's will (Romans 8:26-27)

[Dr. Maxcina Gadsden]

Part 3 Indwelling of the Holy Spirit - Speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues
Let’s begin by establishing one basic fact. In the Christian’s life each phase -- being called and coming to Christ, as well as the relationship with God as His child -- begins, continues, and finishes with the Holy Spirit’s help. Does this mean the Holy Spirit dwells inside us, to help us? Let us allow the scriptures to speak:

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” {1 Corinthians 6:19, 20}

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” {Romans 8:9-11}

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” {1 Corinthians 3:16, 17}

“That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.”{2 Timothy 2:14}

A Thought from Another Forum
I always believed that speaking in tongues meant the people were engulfed with the Holy Spirit and then started understanding tongues such as Greek, Hebrew, Italian and such where before they only knew their own tongue.

Dr. Maxcina Response
Yes, this happened at Pentecost read the book of Acts.
This has happen to several Preachers that I know of. They went to a foreign country to minister and all of sudden they were speaking the native tongue without assistance.

This happens when the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Another level in Christ!

Types of Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Direct — Personal. God’s active and direct infusion of His Spirit into humanity. To the end that deity dwells within the human bodies of men and women; who are literal residences of God. In the scripture, applies only to Jesus. “So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” {Matthew 1:22, 23}

Indirect—Representative. Implies an indwelling that comes through an effort on the part of the believer to imbibe God’s personality into his own. This results in the reflection of the characteristics of God in the believer’s life. This indwelling occurs through, and only through, mental concepts, drawn from Biblical precepts. In this manner, God speaks to, leads, and dwells in man.

Immediate. Conveys the idea of having nothing come between; there is no intermediary or intermediation; the indwelling is not secondary or remote. If this be so, we are affirming that the Deity dwells, without the intermediation of His word, or the invention of any other object, in person, inside the believer. Deity is actually and literally in the human body. This is a fancy way of saying “personal indwelling.”

Mediate. Mediate conveys the idea of acting through an intervening cause or agent, not directly; to act as an intermediary or medium in effecting and bringing about the changes in my personal behavior.
When a Christian possesses the following attributes, outlined in Romans 8, the Spirit dwells in him.
• Verse 1 -- walks after the Spirit.
• Verse 5 -- minds the things of the Spirit.
• Verse 9 -- has the Spirit dwelling in him.
• Verses 11,12 -- does not live according to the flesh.
• Verse 14 -- is led by the Spirit (through the word).

[Dr. Maxcina Gadsden]

How can we know whether the Spirit dwells within us? “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” {Acts 5:32}

The verse says that those who obey have complied with God’s conditions. “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” {Romans 10:16,17}

Only through Bible faith can the Christian be assured that the Spirit is dwelling in him. The most convincing evidence that the Spirit dwells in a person is the fruit that person produces after he obeys. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Galatians 5:22-24 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:8-10 “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”

Colossians 3:5-10 The Spirit indwells in those who bear the “fruits of the Spirit.”

[Ms. Norma]

Thank you for the Education. Very nice, keep up the good work.
Ms. Norma

[Lance]

do you handle snakes and drink poison?

[Rev. Samuel Tataw Abey Enow.]

Hi brethren,this brothers understands and acknowledges how God used this preacher to speak to him.Brother you just have some pentecostal prejudise in your head,please let it go.If God speaks to you as you said, go back to God and ask him if speaking in tongues in church is Wrong or if you should condemn it.Please my brother let legalism flee from you.The holy Spirit is sovereign.God bless you brother.

[Rev. Anthony Luckett]

Dr. Gadsden, the Elder spoke in tongues, but there was no interpretation on what he said. I also believe I read in a commentary that this can be confusing to a unsaved person visiting a church. Case in point, we had a visitor last sunday who prayed in tongues while our Pastor prayed. A young lady commented on the lady praying in tongues. I then explained to our young member that the visitor was praying in tongues. I'm not against tongues at all. I will read you entire post this evening when I get home. I'm at work now. "Bapticostal"- hee! hee!

p.s. I told one of our deacons that our church went catholic because we stand up longer that we used to. (hee! hee!) I was raised in the catholic church in my younger years.

[Dr. Maxcina Gadsden]

Rev. Anthony,

We (Christians) are funny! LOL

You are correct with your response to the young lady.

[Rev. Anthony Luckett]

Read and looked at a few commentaries on Part 1. I did see in 1 Cor 14:28 that if there is no interpreter, the person must keep silent. I'll read part 2 tomorrow. I have prayed and asked the Lord to give me greater insight and revelation about tonges. Thanks for all your help Dr. Gadsden. I have prayed and asked the Lord to lead me on a greater dept of study in order to get closer to him and in order to preach and teach his word with greater substance to others.

p.s. take a look at my website and let me know if you are interested. This is one of my ministries
www.ambassadorsforlife.org/anthonyluckett

[Dr. Maxcina Gadsden]

Rev. Anthony

God will give you the desires of your heart. Stay true and faithful to your calling.

Your website I love it. I already participate with this through their (Betty and James) program which appears on TBN.

Its go to know that you are connect.

[Prophetess Teresa White]

I believe some folk are just left behind in tradition and they not expecting to hear someone speak in tongues. For a great example when I was praying over my grandmother in the hospital in tongues folk were looking at me crazy but I block that enemy out because if he hear your prayer he try to set something before you to hinder your prayer so when I pray I do pray in tongues alot. As the discussion my uncle and I had he said they looked at you crazy because they didn't understand and that is why folk look at us it's because they don't understand not one word a person is saying when they are speaking in tongues and that is the purpose because that language is for God and the one he use to interpet what the Spirit of the Lord is saying.

Prophetess Teresa White